Machine for cleaning sheet metal



(No Model.)

0. 0. ROBERTS. MACHINE FOR GLEANING SHEETMETAL.

No. 582,952. Patented May 18, 1897.

'NITED ,rrrcn.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING SHEET METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 582,952, dated May 18,1897. Application filed August 12, 1896. Serial No. 602,492. (No model.)

have been tinned on one side, the maid being commonly formed on the backof the sheet when the hot tin is applied to its face. Ordinarily theoXid is removed through the action of an acid solution applied by meansof a swab,which is a tedious, costly, and unsatis: factory operation. Itis very important that the application of the acid should be effected insuch manner as to keep it away from the tinned side of the sheet, as itwill instantly destroy the tin if allowedto come in contact therewith.It is also important that the tinned-metal sheets should be thoroughlydried as quickly as the oXid is removed. I The straightening of thetinned-metal sheets while being cleaned to effect removal of wrinkles isalso desirable. These objects can be much better and more economicallyaccomplished by means of suitable machinery than by hand labor.

My invention consists in features of construction and novel combinationsof devices in a machine for eleaning and removing oxid from tinned-metalsheets, as hereinafter set forth.

I11 the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a planof my improved sheet-metal'cleaning machine. Fig. 2 shows the same invertical longitudinal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the main portion ofthe machineframe,designed for supporting the mechanism for straightening the tinned-metal sheets and cleaning the oxid therefrom. A detachablesupplemental frame 2 is preferably provided to support the apparatus fordrying the cleaned metal sheets as soon as the oXid and acid areremoved. By means of suitable lugs and fasfenings 3 at. adjoining endsof the frames 1 and 2 they can be rigidly connected, if desired, or theframe 2 can be detached if the drying apparatus is not needed.

In bearings 4 at one end of the main frame 1 are journaled two rolls 5and (5, one above the other, for straightening the sheets to tinnedmetal as they are fed to the machine between said rolls. The upper roll5 maybe made from steel and the lower roll 6 from rubber,or any othersuitable elastic or inelastic material may be used for either roll.These rolls 5 and 6 are geared together by means of pinions 7 to revolvein proper directions for feeding the metal sheet 8 into the machine, andthey may be driven by any suitable power through belting to a pulley 9on the shaft of the lower roll.

From the straightening and feeding rolls 5 and 6 the sheet of tinnedmetal is passed over a guide or guides 10 to a group of three rolls 11,12, and 13 for applying acid to the under side of the metal sheet forremoving oxid therefrom. The two lower rolls 11 and 12 are in contactwith the under side of the metal sheet and are revolved in a tank orreceptacle 14, that may contain oil of vitriol or other suitable aciddiluted with water. The first lower roll 11 may be composed of wood orother suitable material, and the second roll 12 may have a clothcovering. These rolls 11 and 12 deposit acid on the under side of themetal sheet to loosen the oxid, so that it will readily come off. Themetal sheet is held down onto the acid-applying rolls 11 and 12 by meansof the upper roll 13, which is preferably composed of a number of coppercollars detachably mounted on a shaft or axle, so that any of the saidcollars may be removed from either end or be replaced to correspond withthe width of the tinned-metal sheet. I prefer that the collars composingthis upper roll 13 shall be so adjusted in number that the ends of thesaid roll will come within only a halfinch of the width of the metalsheet, so that by thus lessening the pressure at the edges of the sheetthe acid deposited on its under side cannot get onto the top or tinnedside, which is uppermost. The rolls 11, 12, and 13 are carried on shaftsthat are journaled in bearings 15, supported on the main frame 1, andare driven by sprocket-gearing 16 from the lower straightening-roll 6,the shafts of KOO the rolls 11, 12, and 13 being connected byspur-gearing 17, as shown.

After passing the acid-rolls the sheet of metal is carried over a smallroller 18, to insure that the acid will get into any wrinkles that maybe in the sheet, which is often the case with metal rolled in strips,and thence it passes over a guide or guides 19 to rotaryscouring-biaishes 20 and 21, the shafts of which are journaled inbearings 22 on the main frame of the machine. The brush-shafts areconnected by gears 23, arranged to revolve the lower brush faster thanthe upper one, and are driven by belting to a pulley 21 on one of saidshafts. Just before reaching the brushes 20 and 21 water is sprayed fromperforated pipes 25 and .26 against the upper and lower sides of themetal sheet. The water is to wash off the acid and the oxid, which isloosened the instant that the acid touches it. The cleaning off of theoxid completed in the passage of the metal sheets between the rotarybrushes 20 and 21, that are mounted adjacent to the point where thewater is sprayed onto the sheet.

Two rolls 27 and 28, preferably of rubber, are mounted one above theother immediately behind the brushes 20 and 21 to hold the metal sheetsteady while the seouringbrushes are in operation. These two rolls 27and 28 are connected by pinions 30 to revolve together, and are drivenby sprocket-gearing 30 from the shaft of one of the acid-rolls.

The scoured metal sheets may be passed over a guide or guides 31 to apair of rubber rolls 32 for wringing off the moisture from the sheets.These rolls may be connected by gears 33 to revolve together. As shown,they are journaled in bearings 31-, supported on the detachablesupplemental frame 2, though it is obvious that they might be mounted onthe main frame. Instead of being composed of rubber they may be madefrom or faced with a material such as felt or cloth or some other softsubstance.

To further dry the metal sheets, a steampiped sawdust-box ordrying-chamber is provided. This sawdust-box is preferably supported onthe supplemental frame 2, though it is obvious that the entire metalcleaning and drying apparatus may be mounted altogether on one frameonly, if desired.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the sawdust-box 35 comprisestwo compartments and that the larger one is filled with a body ofsawdust 36, that will be capable of absorbing moisture from the metalsheets passed through the box.

Between the wringcr-rolls S2 and the box 35 will be arranged a guide orguides 37, over which the metal sheet is carried to and through atransversely-slotted opening 38 in the end of the sawdust-box. Inpassing through the sawdust-eompartment of the box 35 the metal sheet iscarried between the up per and lower series of rolls 3.) and rotarybrushes i0, which may be disposed in any convenient or preferred mannerto exert friction on the upper and lower sides of the metal sheets. Therolls 39 may be made from wood or any suitable material. Any requirednumber of rolls and brushes may be mounted in the box. The sawdust willbe pressed and rubbed against the sides of the metal sheets and willabsorb the moisture therefrom. In order to keep the sawdust dry, aseries of steam pipes or coils i1 is placed in the box.

From the larger compartment of the box 35 the metal sheet is passedthrough a transverse slot or opening 42 into a smaller boxeompartmentand between two rotary brushes 13, mounted therein, which remove fromthe metal sheet any sawdust that may have adhered. thereto. The cleanedmetal sheet 8 is now discharged through a transverse opening or slot 41in the end of the drying-box.

At the opposite ends of the box are mounted transversely-arrangcd shafts45 and it), that are connected at both ends, by sprocket-gearing 17 andas, with the shafts of the several rolls and brushes mounted in thedrying-box. A pulley i9 011 the shaft 413 furnishes means for applyingpower to drive the drying rolls and brushes, and the gearing may be soarranged that the several rolls and brushes will run at any requiredvariations of speed. For instance, the first one on top may run twice asfast as the first bottomv one and the others may alternately run fastand slow in succession. The wringer-rolls may be run by sprocket-gearingfrom the shaft of one of the rolls in the drying-box. The bearings ofthe upper rolls and brushes throughout the cleaning and drying apparatusmay be provided with adjusting-screws 51, as shown, to regulate theirpressure as required, according to the thickness andcondition of themetal sheets to be cleaned. The guides 10, 1-), 31, and 37 should extendquite close to the several rolls, and they may preferably consist ofnarrow strips set at intervals on cross-bars 52, that are extendedacross the machine and supported by standards 52 at their ends.

It will be obvious that metal sheets maybe rapidly, economieally,andthoroughly cleaned and dried with this apparatus and that the acidemployed will not be liable to come in contact with the tinned side ofthe sheet.

lVhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a machine for cleaning metalsheets, the combination with the straightening-rolls, of a group ofthree rolls for applying acid to the under side of a metal sheet, anacid tank or rcceptable in which two of said rolls revolve the thirdroll being mounted in contact with the upper side of the sheet and beingadjustable to the width of the sheet, a pair of rotary scouring-brushesbetween which the metal sheet is passed from the acid-applying rolls,means for spraying water on the upper and under sides of the metal sheetadjacent to the scouring-brushes, and guides for supporting the metalsheet, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the acid tank or receptacle, the two rollsmounted to revolve in said tank in contact with the under side of ametal sheet to be cleaned, a roll adj ustable in length to come withinthe width of the metal sheet and mounted in contact with the upper sideof said sheet and above the two acid-applying rolls, a roll 18 adjacentto one of said acid-applying rolls, to insure that the acid will getinto any wrinkles in the metal sheet, a guide or sheet support, tworotary scouring-brushes, water-spraying devices, and means for holdingthe metal sheet steady for operation of the scouring-brushes thereon,substantially as described. 7

3. The combination with the acid tank or receptacle and the acidapplying rolls lo cated in said tank for removing oxid from a metalsheet, of the two rotary scouringbrushes between which the metal sheetis passed from the acidapplying rolls, the perforated pipes for sprayingwater onto the upper and under sides of the metal sheet adjacent to thescouring-brushes, and a pair of rolls mounted beyond and adjacent tosaid brushes to steady the metal sheet while acted on by thescouring-brushes, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a tank or receptacle for acid, and two rollsmounted to revolve in said tank and apply acid to the under side of ametal sheet to be cleaned, of a roll comprising a shaft and a number ofremovable collars mounted on said shaft above and in contact with theupper side of said metal sheet and above the rolls that revolve in thetank, the number of collars on said shaft being variable to adjust thelength of said upper roll so that it will come within the width of themetal sheet to prevent access of acid to the upper side of the metalsheet, substantially as described.

5. The combination with mechanism for applying acid to the under side ofa metal sheet to be cleaned, a pair of rotary scouring-brushes,water-spraying devices and rolls for steadying the metal sheet whileacted on by said scouring-brushes, of the pair of wringer-rolls, andguides to support the metal sheet, substantially as described.

6. The combination with mechanism for cleaning metal sheets, of asawdust box through which a metal sheet is to be passed from thecleaning mechanism, a number of rolls and rotary brushes mounted in saidsawdust-box to operate in contact with the upper and under sides of acleaned metal sheet to dry the same, steam pipes or coils in said box tokeep the sawdust dry, a pair of rotary brushes to remove sawdust fromthe cleaned and dried metal sheets, and mechanism for driving the saidrolls and brushes at variable speeds, substantially as described.

7. The combination with mechanism for cleaning metal sheets, and a mainframe in which said cleaning mechanism is mounted, of a sawdust-boxthrough whicha metal sheet is to be passed from the cleaning mechanism,

a number of rolls and rotary brushes mounted in said sawdust-box tooperate in contact with the metal sheet to dry the same, steam- I pipesin said box to keep the sawdust dry, a supplemental frame on which thesawdustbox is mounted, and means for detachably connecting the mainframe and supplemental frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES C. ROBERTS.

Witnesses D. E. ROBERTS, LEWIS S. STODDARD.

